This article originally appeared on CityBiz.
Hoar Construction today announced the completion of a 34,740-square-foot facility at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida. Called the Center for Aerospace Technology II (CAT II), the building broke ground last summer and provides research and laboratory space within the school’s Research Park.
The single-story CAT II facility is designed to serve scientists and students developing technologies to be used in the aerospace sector and houses specialized laboratories that recreate space and atmospheric conditions. It also includes a clean room, where equipment can be sterilized for space operations.
The CAT II exterior features a decorative “dancing” wall with multicolored panels that give the illusion of movement for those passing by.
“CAT II is a great example of how thoughtful planning and collaboration can bring highly technical spaces to life,” said Erika Charlassier, project manager at Hoar Construction. “From advanced laboratories to the sterilization room, every element of this facility was built to support innovation. Our team worked closely with Embry-Riddle to safely navigate complex conditions while maintaining schedule and budget, delivering a space that will help shape the future of aerospace research and education.”
Throughout construction, student planes departed from the nearby Daytona Beach International Airport every few minutes, frequently taking off and landing close to the work site. To navigate any low altitude operations, Hoar implemented careful coordination and communication with ERAU to ensure no equipment — including cranes, boom pumps and forklifts — exceeded the building’s height while planes were in flight. Hoar also utilized value engineering to deliver high-quality construction while keeping the project within budget for the school.
Architecture firm ikon.5 architects led the design for the project. Additional design, engineering and consulting partners on the CAT II project included Parker Mynchenberg & Associates, Thornton Tomasetti, CMTA, Prosser and Fisher Marantz Stone.
Hoar previously worked with ERAU on a four-story, 239,172-square-foot parking garage on campus, which also included 8,314 square feet of office space on the ground floor. Across Florida, Hoar recently broke ground on a $100 million, 804-bed student living complex near Florida Southern University in Tallahassee and is underway on the four-story, 77,200-square-foot Watson Clinic Medical Office Building in Lakeland.
